Emotional stability refers to the state in which a person remains calm with his or her emotions and determines the way in which a person faces and copes with life’s problems and complicated situations. It is the ability to regulate and not repress feelings. This helps us to be able to deal with situations in a way that does not harm us and is more favorable.
Unfavorable circumstances are natural and can arise in our daily lives. Thanks to emotional stability, the way these situations affect us may not have a disproportionate impact on us and we do not remain anchored only in negative emotions.
According to the European Institute of Psychology, people with emotional stability share certain characteristics:
- They experience positive and pleasant emotions and enjoy them fully.
- They are able to recognize and manage their emotions.
- They live in emotional balance.
- They have a good tolerance for frustration derived from not achieving goals or as a consequence of moments of loss of control.
- In critical situations, people with emotional stability have an easier time concentrating and not losing their attention.
- They have a better capacity for self-control at critical moments.
- They are constant, insistent, and persevering in their objectives and goals.
- They are less vulnerable to stress.
- They have more security, self-esteem, and self-confidence.
According to modern psychology, emotional stability is recognized opposite. The concept of emotional stability is present in different areas of psychology and they recognize neuroticism with characteristics such as anxiety, hostility, depression, or impulsivity as contrary.
TIPS FOR A MORE EMOTIONALLY STABLE LIFE
Clinical psychologist Nicole LePera has shared five tips to put into practice on a daily basis to make our lives more emotionally stable and feel greater satisfaction and fulfillment.
1. DO NOT ASSUME
If you don’t know why someone did or didn’t do something, ask them. Many of us tend to create stories in our heads that are rarely true. We think we know what other people think, but these are all assumptions and can lead us to attack, blame and criticize. Besides making us feel a lot of pain. Therefore, the way to stop assuming is to start asking and communicating from a clearer and more transparent place with others and with ourselves.
2. EXPRESS YOUR NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS
Sometimes we expect our minds to be read, but no one will understand what we need if we don’t say it openly. This leads to enormous frustration in all of our relationships. Defining what we need or expect, clearly, openly, honestly and with an assertive attitude, helps us to be more aware of what is possible and what is not, to better tolerate frustration, and not to hurt ourselves by judging the apparent “inactivity” of the people around us from whom we expect something.
3. LEARN TO SAY “NO
Whenever you can, say “no” to things that drain you of energy, or inspiration or distract you from your priorities. Saying yes because we don’t want to bother because we think we have to do everything or for some other reason when in reality we don’t want to or it doesn’t do us any good, is a way of self-generating anger, helplessness, tension, and self-punishment, which will be added to other accumulated emotions. This implies, in the long run, great psychological damage to ourselves. For this reason, saying “no” to everything that does us no good is a way to get respect for ourselves, but also for other people to respect and value us.
4. ALLOW YOURSELF TIME
Set aside time each week to do something you love that is just for you. It is important to be alone with our thoughts but, although it is something necessary, at this point the psychologist Nicole LePera insists on something. To achieve our own emotional stability we must work on self-care and this involves prioritizing, at least once a week, an activity that makes us happy and that connects us with us through something that excites us.
5. REJECT THE CULTURE OF URGENCY
Immediacy is a phenomenon that has been established in our culture. They demand everything “now and without waiting” and there comes a time when we end up demanding it too. All of this leads to great frustration and collective insensitivity. Before automatically responding to other people’s emails, messages or crises, ask yourself if you are at a good time to do so and if not, wait until you are ready.